I apologize

The next morning, Lin Yang endured the swelling on his face and the discomfort in his body, changed into a neat Personal Disciple robe, and arrived at the Danxin Hall, where Sect Master Su Mubai handled daily affairs.

He took a deep breath, forced an expression of deep remorse and extreme sincerity onto his face, stepped into the hall, and knelt before Su Mubai, who was reviewing a Jade Slip, with a loud "thud."

"Revered Master! This Disciple... this Disciple knows his wrong!"

Lin Yang's voice was choked with sobs, half-real and half-fake, because he was indeed in pain all over, and he kowtowed deeply.

Su Mubai looked up at the kneeling Disciple, especially at the face still bearing obvious wounds, his heart feeling complicated.

He put down the Jade Slip and sighed: "You know your wrong? Where did you go wrong?"

"This Disciple was wrong for being jealous and narrow-minded. Not only was I disrespectful to Fellow Daoist Chen Yuan, but I also lost my virtue after drinking, nearly causing a great disaster! This Disciple has failed Revered Master's teachings and tarnished the reputation of the Sect!"

Lin Yang spoke with earnest words, keeping his posture extremely low: "After reflecting all night, this Disciple is filled with regret! That Fellow Daoist Chen Yuan's Alchemy is divine, and his strength is extraordinary; this Disciple accepts defeat wholeheartedly! This Disciple wishes to personally apologize to him, beg for his forgiveness, and... and hopes to turn hostility into friendship, befriend him, and ask for his guidance in Alchemy!"

This profound confession and the posture of sudden enlightenment indeed moved Su Mubai.

Looking at the Disciple who seemed to have matured quite a bit overnight, a trace of gratification flashed in his eyes.

It seems that yesterday's setback, although the method was a bit intense, truly made this arrogant Disciple recognize himself and understand the principle that there is always someone better.

"Sigh, it brings me great comfort that you can see reason."

Su Mubai's tone softened significantly: "It is a great virtue to correct one's mistakes. Young Friend Chen Yuan has a special status and an extraordinary demeanor. If you can befriend him, it will surely benefit your future path of Alchemy. Go now, apologize to Young Friend Chen Yuan properly, and be sure your attitude is sincere."

Seeing his Revered Master's attitude soften, Lin Yang was secretly delighted and hurriedly struck while the iron was hot: "Thank you, Revered Master! This Disciple will certainly apologize with sincerity. However... going to apologize empty-handed would seem to lack sincerity. This Disciple remembers that the 'earth core fire lotus' in Fentian Valley seems to be ripening soon. This Disciple is willing to offer this item as a gift of apology to Fellow Daoist Chen Yuan, to express my regret, and also in the hope that it may help him advance further in Alchemy."

The earth core fire lotus grows in the deepest parts of Fentian Valley and can only mature after absorbing three thousand years of earth vein fire baleful qi and fire spirit energy.

After refining, its fire spirit energy can temper a Cultivator's Divine Sense, which is of great benefit for breaking through Bottlenecks in Divine Sense, especially when attempting to reach the Sixth-Rank Divine Sense!

More importantly, the 'Heart Lotus Tempering Fire' contained within its lotus heart can purify Alchemy fire and greatly enhance control over flames. It is a rare holy medicine that assists in breaking through to become a Sixth-Rank Alchemist!

After hearing this, a flash of light appeared in Su Mubai's eyes, and he nodded slightly: "The earth core fire lotus... it is indeed a rare treasure of our Pill God Sect and is invaluable to Alchemists. If you are willing to give this as a gift, it shows sufficient sincerity. Young Friend Chen Yuan is a Revered Master of Alchemy, so he will surely be interested in this item. Hmm, this is a good suggestion; you may go and arrange it."

"Yes! Revered Master! This Disciple will go to Moon Embracing Peak to request an audience with Fellow Daoist Chen Yuan right away!"

Lin Yang was ecstatic, but he maintained a respectful and remorseful expression on his face. After kowtowing again, he withdrew from Danxin Hall.

As soon as he left Su Mubai's sight, the sincerity on Lin Yang's face instantly turned cold and sinister.

He couldn't wait to head towards the guest quarters of Moon Embracing Peak. In his mind, he was already sketching out the surprised and eager expression on Chen Yuan's face upon receiving the news of the earth core fire lotus, as well as the final look of despair as he was devoured by the earth-fiend fire.

However, when he arrived at Moon Embracing Peak and found the guest quarters where Chen Yuan was staying, he discovered that it was empty, and even that girl named Shen Nianchu was not there.

The muscles on Lin Yang's face twitched violently; the perfect opening he had planned instantly fell through.

He suppressed his anger and asked the Utility Disciple responsible for cleaning the guest quarters.

"Young Master Chen Yuan? He went out early this morning." The Utility Disciple replied cautiously.

Lin Yang felt a surge of blood rush to his head. If Chen Yuan was not at Moon Embracing Peak, where else could he be? It was obviously with Su Yuejin.

The jealousy and hatred he had just suppressed flared up again like poisonous fire.

He could almost imagine how Chen Yuan and Su Yuejin were being intimate and affectionate inside the Immortal Cave at this very moment!

"Good... very good!" Lin Yang squeezed the words out through his teeth, his expression terrifyingly dark.

He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, and turned to leave. At this moment, the murderous intent in his heart toward Chen Yuan reached its peak.

"Enjoy it to the fullest... soon, you won't have the chance!"

He cursed viciously in his heart, accelerated his pace, and flew towards Moon Embracing Peak.

Just as Lin Yang was heading to Moon Embracing Peak, Su Mubai, inside the Danxin Hall, had not completely put his mind at ease.

He pondered for a moment, and a ray of spiritual light flew from his fingertips.

Before long, a white-robed old man with a profound aura and a solemn face appeared silently in the hall; it was Gu Cheng, an Elder of the Pill God Sect's Enforcement Hall.

"Sect Master." Elder Gu Cheng bowed.

Su Mubai waved his hand to set up a soundproofing barrier and said with a solemn expression: "Elder Gu, has there been any progress in the investigation regarding the attack on Su Yuejin? That group of demonic Cultivators was able to ambush with such precision and even dispatched a Body Integration Stage demonic Cultivator Elder; they must be extremely familiar with the internal situation of our Sect. I suspect... there may be high-ranking remnants of demonic Cultivators hiding within the Sect!"

Elder Gu Cheng frowned and said in a deep voice: "Reporting to Sect Master, I am investigating in secret. That group of demonic Cultivators acted meticulously and left few clues at the scene. But to be so clear about the Young Miss's travel route, the inside contact is definitely not an ordinary Elder or Disciple; it is very likely..." He did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

It is very likely an Elder above the Inner Sect.

A flash of sharpness crossed Su Mubai's eyes, and a wave of lingering fear rose in his heart.

The Sect has actually been infiltrated to such a degree! If these vermin are not rooted out, they will surely become a great disaster in the future!

"Continue the investigation! It must be kept secret. Better to investigate wrongly than to let anyone slip through! If there is any progress, report to me at any time!"

"Yes!" Elder Gu Cheng acknowledged the order, and his figure disappeared silently once again.

Outside Su Yuejin's Immortal Cave, the faint morning light spilled into the pavilion outside the cave.

Chen Yuan and Su Yuejin sat together, with clear tea and a few spiritual fruits placed on the stone table.

Chen Yuan was talking eloquently, sharing his subtle insights on the balance of the Five Elements' medicinal power, which made Su Yuejin's beautiful eyes sparkle with brilliance, filled with admiration.

After finishing, Chen Yuan picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

Su Yuejin was listening intently; seeing him stop, she quickly picked up the teapot to refill his hot tea, saying softly: "Young Master Chen Yuan, please have some tea."

As she handed him the teacup, Chen Yuan reached out to take it, and his fingertips inadvertently brushed against her warm, soft hand.

"Ah..." Like a startled little deer, Su Yuejin's hand trembled slightly. A flush of red instantly spread from her cheeks to her earlobes. She hurriedly retracted her hand, her heart beating like a drum.

She kept her head down, not daring to look at Chen Yuan again. What is wrong with me? Why is my face so hot? Young Master Chen Yuan wouldn't laugh at me, would he?